Vent plug with automatic feeding valve for storage batteries



Feb. 16, 1937.

i E. RAMIREZ 2,070,921

- VENT PLUG WITH AUTOMATIC FEEDING VALVE FOR STORAGE BATTERIES Filed Aug. .13. 1935 Fig-JV E 7 I 2 FI I INVENTOR'. Eounrwo RRMIREL Patented Feb. 16, 1937 V UNITED STATES VENT PLUG WITH AUTOMATIC FEEDING VALVE FOR STORAGE BATTERIES Eduardo Ramirez, Noga les City, Mexico Application August 13, 1935, Serial No. 35,961 In Mexico June .17, 1935 3 Claims.

This invention relates to a vent plug for storage batteries adapted to be used, at the same time, as a valve for the continuous and automatic feeding of the batteries.

The object of this invention is to supply a vent plug with which to obtain a continuous feeding of distilled water for the batteries, using the special arrangement hereinafter described, without worrying about the constant care necessary to keep the level of the acid at the properheight, thus avoiding the inconveniences that the neglect of this causes.

The object of my invention is to supply a vent plug with which the above mentioned result might be obtained, substituting for the vent plugs of current use one of relatively low cost.

The featuring details of my invention are shown in the following description and in the drawing enclosed, which illustrates said description.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 shows a longitudinal section of the vent plug.

Fig. 2 shows the front View of the distilled water tank for feeding the battery by gravity.

Fig. 3 shows a lateral view of the vent plug ready to be connected to the distilled water tank.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a brace which may be used for clamping the members of the vent plug together.

In Fig. 1, I shows the body of the vent plug which substantially differs from the usual ones by the fact that instead of having only the common vent holes, which serves as outlet for the gases emitted by the electrolyte, it has a large hole or conical cavity in the center, and a small vent hole 8, H), which serves as outlet for the gases. The large central conical cavity,- extends approximately down to half of the height of the vent plug narrowing afterwards so as to form a seat in which is placed disc I l, which has a small central perforation or hole.

The large or conical cavity hereinbefore mentioned, which, as explained, narrows to form a seat for the disc, continues down to the lower end of the vent plug, but now of cylindrical form, as shown at N. This prolongation or extension of the cavity could also be of conical shape, but in this case should have the form of an inverted cone with respect to the cone of the upper end.

Cylindrical hole, l3, lodges, under disc ll, one rubber sponge, and in the lower end holds nozzle 26 which has a small central boring; this nozzle is point shaped at the end, as seen at 16.

Nozzle 28 is fitted into hole I3 only by friction,

although it could be threaded; and has a wider parts or flange which abuts against the lower end of the vent plug so as to make it keep a firm position. The vent plug has, on one side, angle lever l8 with a hinged joint at ,I! so as to have free movement. The other leg of the lever is embedded in a piece or disk make of cork.

By. means of the arrangement of cork disc l9 and the special placing of hinged joint II, the

disc tends to go down due to its own weight leav- 10 ing thus, free or open the outlet of nozzle. 20, as seen at 16; but, when the vent plug is in its place in the battery, the ,level of the liquid reaches cork piece 19 and this, by virtue of its low specific gravity tends to move upwards thus closing the outlet of the nozzle. If from a feeding source, for instance, the tank shown in figure 2, water is flowed by gravity to the central hole of the vent plug, the water will keep dropping into the battery cell until the level of the elec- 90 trolyte rises, thus lifting floating cork [9 which obturates the outlet of nozzle 16, thus ensuring, that the electrolyte keeps always a constant level so long as the feeding source is not exhausted.

The flowing of water through the vent plug is attained by means of part 2. This part is really a second plug, whose conical end, 6, fits perfectly into the conical cavity of plug, 1. Secondary plug 2, is equipped with one or more nipples. The drawing shows only one, marked 4. These nipples are used as a connection for the water that flows from the feeding source. When dealing with a mono-cell battery, one nipple will be enough, but when there are several cells, it will be necessary to install two or more nipples in the first and intermediate cells so as to connect the different plugs in series.

The duct of nipple 4, through which the water flows from the secondary plug, is connected with one central deposit, marked 3, of conical shape, which in its base widens forming a seat in which is placed strainer 2! used to retain any extraneous matter that the feeding liquid might contain. Under strainer 2| is placed sponge l4 kept in position by disc l5 which has a small hole or boring to permit the passing of the liquid.

Notwithstanding that secondary plug 2 fits perfectly into the cavity of plug 1, for emergency cases, there has been provided brace l which when placed upon secondary plug 2 tightens and fastens same by setting its ends into circular groove 5, made in the upper end of main plug 1. When the apparatus is assembled and the vent plug is placed in the cell's vent hole, water flows in through nipple 4, passes through strainer 2| to sponge I4 and drops from the hole in disc If: to the vacant space from where it goes through the hole of disc I I to the second sponge, marked l2, going out by the duct of nozzle l6 into the interior of the cell as explained hereinbefore.

Having described my invention, what I consider as new and claim as my own, is the following:

1. In a storage battery, a vent plug for continuously and automatically feeding liquid to the battery cells, comprising a main plug having a central cavity extending therethrough, a centrally perforated disc seated in said cavity, a nozzle disposed in said cavity below said disc, a member of absorbent material disposed between the nozzle and disc, an angle lever having one of its legs pivoted to the plug at the lower end thereof the other leg of said lever being embedded in a floating member adapted to control the outlet of the nozzle, a secondary plug disposed in the cavity of the main plug and having a central cavity communicating with the cavity of the main plug and a nipple connection communicating with said central cavity for connecting the same with a source of liquid supply.

2. In a storage battery, a vent plug for continuously and automatically feeding liquid to the battery cells, comprising a main plug having a central cavity extending therethrough, a centrally perforated disc seated in said cavity, a nozzle disposed in said cavity below said disc, a member of absorbent material disposed between the nozzle and disc, an angle lever having one of its legs pivoted to the plug at the lower end thereof the other leg of said lever being embedded in a floating member adapted to control the outlet of the nozzle, a secondary plug disposed in the cavity of the main plug and having a central cavity communicating with the cavity of the main plug and a nipple connection communicating with said central cavity for connecting the same with a source of liquid supply and clamping means for securing the secondary plug in position on the main plug.

3. In a storage battery, a vent plug for continuously and automatically feeding liquid to the battery cells, comprising a main plug having a central cavity extending therethrough, a centrally perforated disc seated in said cavity, a nozzle disposed in said cavity below said disc, 2. member of absorbent material disposed between the nozzle and disc, an angle lever having one of its legs pivoted to the plug at the lower end thereof the other leg of said lever being embedded-in a floating member adapted to control the outlet of the nozzle, a secondary plug disposed in the cavity of the main plug and having a central cavity communicating with the cavity of the main'plug and anipple connection communicating with said central cavity for connecting the same with a source of liquid supply, a strainer disposed in the cavity of said secondary plug, an absorbent member below said strainer, and a perforated disc supporting said absorbent member.

EDUARDO RAMIREZ. 

